Filing equipment



- Sept. 23, 1941. E. KERN FILING UIPMENT Fil ed May 15, 1939 [Mi/V7171? 1721 fQWA/ ATTJAWE? Patented Sept. 23, 1941 NITED STATES OFFICE; I

FILING EQUIPMENT Emil Kern, Long Island City, N. Y., assignor to Acco Products, Inc., liong'lsland City, N. Y., a corporationof New York Application May 13, 1939,.Serial $10,273,393

2 Claims.

The invention relates to filing equipment and more particularly to, readily operable, means adapted for detachably clamping together blue prints, samples or similar sheet material for vertical filing or display.

Drawings, blue prints, samples or the like, are more readily filed for sale keeping or displayed by detachably securing them to suspension units. The units are adapted to be removably mounted in vertical filing cabinets or on racks of a type similar to those disclosed in Patents No. 1,867,158 and No. 1,867,159, both issued July 12, 1932.

It is an object of the present invention to provide supsension units for use in vertical filing equipment with novel clamps.

Another object is to provide novel means for attaching sheets to a suspension unit which is capable of ready manipulation, to effect insertion or removal of one or more of the sheets.

Another object is to provide a suspension unit with novelly constructed means arranged to securely clamp and lock sheets thereto.

The foregoing and such other objects of the invention as will appear hereinafter will be more readily understood from a perusal of the following specification, wherein reference is had to the accompanyingv drawing, and where:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of a filing cabinet including a filing unit embodying features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of a clamp, showing a fragment of the suspension member to which it is attached.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the clamp, showing parts in section.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 3, showing the clamp open.

Fig. 5 is a rear end view of the sheet suspension stud.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the improved clamps, indicated generally at H, preferably are arranged in pairs on a slidable suspension element l2, preferably formed of sheet material. The element I2 may be of any practical construction but, as illustrated, preferably has its upper margin turned rearwardly downwardly to define a channel I3 whereby it may be freely slid onto or 01f from a hanger arm or rod 14. In use, a plurality of filing units, each consisting of a hanger arm l4 and a suspension element I2, preferably are pivotally mounted in a readily accessible position within a filing cabinet l5. An exemplary arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein a suppor l5, preferably comprising a channel member, has its flanges apertured to receive the down-turned end portion 11 of the hanger arm M, to provide independent horizontally movable suspension units.

Each clamp ll, best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, includes a projection or stud I8 which is firmly secured to the element l2, preferably by nuts I9. Sheets 2|, to be suspended, are suitably apertured adjacent one edge to be received over the studs l8.

Each clamp II also includes a member 22 which preferably consists of a strip of substantially stiff material suitably formed and apertured at one end, as at 23 to engage over the associated stud H3. The other end of member 22 has rearwardly extending spaced apart parallel ears 24 apertured to receive a horizontally disposed pivot pin 25. The pin 25 also extends through spaced ears 26 (one shown in Fig. 4) struck from the suspension element l2. A leaf spring 21, suitably anchored to element l2, overlies the upper end of member 22 to normally retain said member tightly against sheets carried on the studs.

Additional means may be provided to positively lock the member 22 against the sheets and, to this end, a vertically slidable lock plate 28 is provided having a lip or flange 29 to overlie the front margin of the member 22 while in its lowermost position (Fig. 3). Upon grasping finger piece 3| on said plate and sliding the latter upwardly, the flange 29 is carried above member 22 to allow pivotal movement of the latter, as indicated in Fig. 4.

The stud [8 may be solid or, as il1ustrated, it may be suitably bored to receive a stem 32 of a cap 33. The cap 33 normally projects upwardly beyond the periphery of the stud to prevent sheets from inadvertently slipping off the stud while the member 22 is in raised position. Upon turning the cap 33 into a horizontal position, the sheets may slide on or off from the stud readily. Inadvertent turning of cap 33 is avoided by providing a radial pin 34 on the rear end of stem 32 (Fig. 5) to coact with either of two radial notches '35 provided in the end of the stud. A spring 36, mounted within the stud, retains the pin 34 in one or the other of notches 35.

In use, the perforated sheets 2| are placed over the studs l8 while the clamping member 22 is in a position substantially as shown in Fig. 4. The clamps 22 then are swung downwardly to engage over their associated studs and. clamp the sheets tightly against the susscope of the appended claims.

pension member I2. Inadvertent displacement of the clamps, against the action of their springs 21 is avoided by then sliding the respective plates 28 into their lowermost position to carry their lips 29 one into positive engagement with each clamp. Obviously, variations in the thickness of the volume of sheets carried on the stud is compensated for by flexing of the clamps.

It should be understood that the instant disclosure is illustrative rather than restrictive.

element, a stud on said element, a movable member mounted on said element apertured to engage over said stud, a spring to normally urge said member into position over said stud, and a loctk to retain said member and stud in engagemen 2. A loose-leaf binder comprising, in combination, a base, spaced bearings on said base,

It is, therefore, not desired that the'invention be 7 limited to the precise details of the disclosure but; that the invention embrace such modifications and variations in detail structure as will fall within the spirit of the invention I claim:

and the a stud on said base adjacent said bearings, a member journalled in said bearings for movement into clamping position over said stud, said member being apertured to receive said stud therethrough, a spring arranged'to urge said l. A clamp comprising, in combination, an

member into clamping position, a latchslidable on said base, and means on said latch arranged to co-act with said member when the latter is positioned over'said stud to prevent its removal. r *EMIL KERN. 

